WINDHOEK
The documentary “Nelson Mandela: The Myth and me”, directed by Khalo Matabane, is being shown for the first time in Namibia next Saturday at the Goethe Centre at seven O’clock (19H00)
“Nelson Mandela: The Myth and me” is a powerful documentary by one of South Africa’s leading film directors, a personal journey and a soul searching mission on the status quo of South Africa, 20 years after the end of Apartheid. Matabane reflects on the promises, the achievements, hopes and trashed dreams mirrored in the daily realities of South Africans.
The film features Wole Soyinka, Nuruddin Farah, Ronnie Kasrils, Dalai Lama, Colin Powell, Joachim Gauck, Albie Sachs, Henry A. Kissinger and many more. Nelson Mandela’s message of freedom, forgiveness and reconciliation still inspires people worldwide. Almost 20 years ago, in 1994, he became the first president of a democratic South Africa – a historical step, the end of Apartheid. Alike many other young South Africans, director Khalo Matabane considered Nelson Mandela his childhood hero. Strong and determined to fight the enemy, that is how Matabane imagined him. At that time, Mandela was still imprisoned. Once he was released and became a respected political actor, Matabane was surprised and maybe a little disappointed by Mandela’s attitude.
Where was the anger? Instead of revenge, Mandela asks forgiveness – even for the perpetrators of the apartheid regime. In a personal letter to Nelson Mandela, Khalo Matabane confronts his childhood hero with some important questions, which he has been asking himself for many years. To Matabane, today’s South Africa can be described as a time bomb, ready to explode any minute. He says: “Tata Mandela, we are one of the most unequal societies in the world people are impatient they can’t wait any longer. Our people feel that change is slow and the system favours the powerful and the wealth. There are protests everywhere, people demand change everywhere, and people demand freedom, real freedom everywhere.
This is a powerful documentary by one of South Africa’s leading film directors, a personal journey and a soul searching mission on the status quo of South Africa 20 years after the end of Apartheid. Matabane reflects on the promises, the achievements, hopes and trashed dreams mirrored in the daily realities of South Africans.
Awards:
Special Jury Award IDFA 2013
Visual : Mandela the Myth